tribute #250 - Wycliffe Missionaries

trekked into depth of country roads in answer to my letter about the route to the mission field. they gave me respect as if I were an equal adult, more clearly than guidance councillors; instructed contact Wycliffe after a degree.

tribute #249 - D. McGimspsey

might not remember someone's words
but you don't forget how they make you feel.

watching him taking full-attention moments
to say something real, encouraging, and

buying poet's books. his poem, someone grocery
shopping at dollarama has changed dollar stores since.

anecdote # 270 - P

I don't know my mood
until I speak. I don't know
how I feel until I contact. when
our paths first crossed I don't recall
but when I felt myself light up on sight
automatically hugged, felt energy transfer...
friendness.

tribute #248 - D

catalysted, expected games
retort play. baited, but

eureka from boundaries ignored –
my anger wasn't for him.

thousands of corrections lifetimes
claiming I lure – how / where I walk

sit, speak. I squandered myself
on their blames, threatenedness

(rewriting rules of engagement)

tribute #247 - A.B.

the layers of its stale
met you at the door

what makes someone
so proud that she'd sit
in her own urine rather
than use adult diapers?

how can dignity be years
looking away? must've
known. what is my urine?

anecdote # 269 - Jamie

in passing H. mentioned him.

a health anomaly marked his teens
– bones growing faster than skin.

from worried secret tones
I presumed him gone.

he's fine as anyone.

take D. – sickly 80+ years,
will outlive the healthy/happy.

crapshoot outcomes.

tribute # 246 - J

speaks, insists on shaking off boxes piled on her.
She embraces yes and no as her options to own
won't be overridden again. She pursues cherishing
and by example allows me to speak, call bullshit
return to irregularly scheduled curiosity.

tribute # 245 - Bryan

human bullseye-seeker
goes to a succession of
centres of circles, construction
arts, music, government,
surfs for A-frames. he's present.

to uncommon degree
being where he is.
making quick friendliness
remembers faces, names
extracts stories.

when I grow up I'll be...

anecdote #268 - L. neighbour (1970s)

brought a jar of bear fat
he'd rendered himself
told dad, use this
on arthritis – no one will ever hear
you complain of pain again.

he left. dad sniffed, nodded.
about right. no one would
get close enough to hear.

anecdote #267 - class trips

backward look, chuckle of "sucker";
rich class kids bussed, skied Mont Cascade,

upper middle class went (I forget).
dregs like me stayed; movie in gymnasium

sometimes roller skating.
with only bus money, packed lunch,

watched others skate, get fizzy drinks.

anecdote # 266 - H

almost 8 years ago,
went lava-plume
at a photo I took.

turned lens away.
didn't realize I held it

guilt-avarice at
mismatch between
intentions and effect.

carried hesitancy,
(humility, cowardice?)

expected replays
of stinging outrage.
H has changed.

what doesn't.

tribute # 244 - Sheila F

15 years in, 6 month gaps creep in.
my relief at word from her let me hear
mind's accusations; I've been a bad friend,
too reticent to say love, not physically
affectionate, too indulgently talking,
not asking after her. (reforming.)

tribute # 243 - Kathy

Stores are full of day-glow orange
an unapologetically alive colour.



Kathy would have revelled in it.
My maid of honour died just before
Easter 2002.

Adamant, she'd close criticism with
well, *I* think ___'s the cat's pajamas. 
tucking into giggles.

anecdote # 265 - E (late 90s)

Memories of oil jostled this loose; While teaching
a cooking demo I brought canola oil. 

E, (olive oil purist) laughed,
and laughed. Maybe for engines?

So I tried olive oil. To get the appeal
it'd take an Italian restaurant's oil.

tribute # 242 - farmer (1980s)

whenever dad and I went cross-country near Almonte we passed:

the farmer living-out-loud made me feel ashamed, cowardly
for not making some similarly public act. why should I too
not elicit derision? keeping my light under a safe
overheating basket...

collective #83 - propriatarists

                           would accuse dictionaries too?
believe they own,
(pshaw, all's lent). nuts?

those externalizing their threatenedness
with the threat sue
                              (boys named Sue?)

in a postcard exchange ephigraphing her own
words back to her...  infringement

                              encounter enough people
                              percent's certifiably insecure.